What's the difference between a Medicare broker and a Medicare agent?

Answered by 29 licensed agents

The main difference between a Medicare broker and a Medicare agent is that brokers represent multiple insurance companies and can present a broader range of Medicare plans, while agents typically represent one insurance company and offer a more limited selection of plans.

Answered by Lea Ayres on March 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, CT, MD & 8 other states

Answered by Lea Ayres Medicare Insurance Agent

Answered by Charise Karjala on May 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA, AZ, CO, PA & WA

Answered by Charise Karjala Medicare Insurance Agent
An Agent Typically works FOR the insurance company. A Broker works with more than one.

As a broker I do contract with all the Medicare plans but some agents may only have some of them companies. You can ask them who they are all contracted with so you feel you are getting a fair understanding of all options not just the ones they represent.

Answered by Tasha Riggs on May 7, 2025

Broker Licensed in CO, AZ, HI & 10 other states

Answered by Tasha Riggs Medicare Insurance Agent
While an agent may be captive and only represent one health care company, a Medicare broker represents many different health care companies, and therefore, a broker can find you the best plan to fit your needs.

Answered by William Lawler on March 29, 2025

Broker Licensed in MO, FL, IA & 12 other states

Answered by William Lawler Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare Agents are capitive agents that work directly for a company/carrier. They are unable to discuss or comment on the competitors plans.

Medicare Brokers, like myself, are able to discuss multiple companies/plan options. You can ask me questions about a few different plans and we can compare your options. This saves you time and allows you to get your answers without calling multiple companies.

Answered by Amy Putrino on May 5, 2025

Agent Licensed in RI, CT, FL & 11 other states

Answered by Amy Putrino Medicare Insurance Agent
There really isn't difference, the main thing to know is that your Agent/Broker does not work for 1 specific insurance company. That way there is no bias in the plan offerings.

Answered by Bryan Smith on March 10, 2025

Broker Licensed in UT, AL, AR & 35 other states

Answered by Bryan Smith Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare brokers usually can show prospects different options. A insurance company medicare agent will only explain to members the plans that the company sells.

Answered by Vincent Esposito on March 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in NY, FL & NJ

Answered by Vincent Esposito Medicare Insurance Agent
A broker represents multiple and, in some cases, all carriers, while an agent only represents one carrier. A broker is generally only paid commissions by the carrier they assist the client they've enroll in while an agent traditionally is paid a salary plus commissions.

Answered by Shawn Brown on March 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AL, CO & 7 other states

Answered by Shawn Brown Medicare Insurance Agent
Great question and one that confuses a lot of people, Medicare agents, and Medicare brokers. There’s not a lot of difference between them. There’s a captive agent as well means that they’re working for the insurance company. They get paid by the insurance company, not usually commission, it’s general pay, so when you talk to somebody who is working, Great question—and one that confuses a lot of people: Medicare agent and Medicare brokers.

There’s not a lot of difference between them.

There’s a captive agent, which means they’re working for the insurance company. They get paid by the insurance company, not usually by commission; it’s usually general pay. So, when you talk to somebody who is working for an insurance Medicare company, they’re going to move you into their plan.

A Medicare agent is a licensed professional. They can find a Medicare plan that will best fit you and your needs.

Then there’s a broker. A broker has other agents usually underneath them, or they have a whole line of insurance carriers that they’re appointed with. They can find out your needs and then turn around and put you in the plan that’s going to fit your needs and benefit you.

I’m a Medicare broker. I have a team below me. I work for you, not the insurance company—and that’s a beautiful thing, by the way. That means I have no motive other than to serve you.

And it doesn’t cost you.

That’s the good news for you.

Answered by Hope Suhr on May 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA, AZ, MO & OR, SC, TN & TX

Answered by Hope Suhr Medicare Insurance Agent
A broker and an agent can do the same things. An agent may be able to offer many companies programs or one companies programs. A broker will generally offer many companies programs and give you the best plan that is available to you.

Answered by Bob Greco on May 31, 2025

Agent Licensed in MO, IA & IL

Answered by Bob Greco Medicare Insurance Agent
Typically, a broker owns a small insurance company that may also produce, and an agent is usually a producer who works for the broker or the brokerage company.

Answered by John Henley on March 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in MS, AL, AR & 5 other states

Answered by John Henley Medicare Insurance Agent
Easy. A broker, a.k.a., an independent rep is affiliated with various Medicare- compliant insurance companies while an agent “could” be a captive agent who can only offer you the plans of the one firm that she/he works for. It is important to get 2-3 “diagnoses” from various agents or you could miss out on better as well as cheaper premium plans.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on May 2, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent
A broker works with several companies to provide options for you.

An agent is an individual who may be captive to 1 company and sell you on their plans.

Answered by Norman Smith on April 1, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL & PA

Answered by Norman Smith Medicare Insurance Agent
Agents normally only contract and represent only one carrier.

Brokers handle more plans and give you more options.

Using the Medicare Name is not permitted, especially if you represent yourself as being a representative of Medicare.

Answered by Michael Pyers on March 31, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH & MI

Answered by Michael Pyers Medicare Insurance Agent
A Licensed Agent may work for just ONE INSURANCE CARRIER…perhaps CIGNA, AETNA, HUMANA, CAREFIRST, UNITED HEALTHCARE…and therefore be predisposed to advise you that his or her company has the best Plan for the client.

An Independent Broker is someone who can be “appointed” by all of the Insurance Carriers and therefore be in the best position to advise the client. An Independent Broker guides the client to the best Plan that fits their budget, their health situation, their risk level, which Doctors the client sees, and even which Pharmacies the client uses.

Answered by John L Herman Jr on March 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in MD, DE & PA

Answered by John L Herman Jr Medicare Insurance Agent
An agent typically represents only one company while a broker represents multiple companies giving you a broader range of products to choose from

Answered by Steve Houchens on April 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in KY & TN

Answered by Steve Houchens Medicare Insurance Agent
A Medicare broker is independent and contracted with multiple companies that provide coverage in conjunction with Medicare. For example, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans.

A Medicare agent would work directly for Medicare.

Answered by Tammy Stoner on May 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in UT, AK, AZ & 7 other states

Answered by Tammy Stoner Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare Broker sometimes refers to an insurance agent who is licensed with several companies when agents can be only licensed thru just one carrier BUT I am a broker & refer to myself as an agent & broker so that can be the same thing!! BUT we can NOT refer to ourselves as a MEDICARE agent or broker legally, only a Senior Market Specialist or something to that kind of wording. Just know Medicare does not have agents themselves if they EVER say they are with Medicare that is a scam HANG UP!!!

Answered by DeeDee Whitlock on May 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in LA

Answered by DeeDee Whitlock Medicare Insurance Agent
The difference between an agent and a broker has to do with representation. An agent represents a particular company whereas a broker is licensed to sell multiple companies' products within a defined market. We are all licensed agents, but I am a broker.

Answered by Bill Zeky on May 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, AL, CO & 10 other states

Answered by Bill Zeky Medicare Insurance Agent
A Medicare broker agent will offer multiple carriers (i.e., Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare) whereas a Medicare agent will work for a carrier (i.e., Humana). {The carrier(s) listed above are for example purposes only. There are 100s of medicare carriers.)

Answered by Elayne Cotton on May 27, 2025

Agent Licensed in CO & TX

Answered by Elayne Cotton Medicare Insurance Agent
A Medicare agent usually will only represent and work with one insurance company or possibly a select few, limiting benefit options. A Medicare broker, on the other hand, works for the consumer, comparing plans from multiple insurance companies to find the best fit for their needs and budget.

Answered by John Zentner on June 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA

Answered by John Zentner Medicare Insurance Agent
Big difference! A Medicare agent is someone who typically is tied to one specific insurance company so can only offer plans from that company. A Medicare broker is someone who is connected with multiple insurance companies and does not have a specific allegiance to one carrier so they can be impartial and offer you the best plan for you as an individual.

I am a broker and I always tell people that everyone is unique and Medicare plans are not a one size fits all. I often times have a couple that I work with and the husband and wife have different plans with different companies due to health issues, medications, doctors, etc.

It is important to see all the options to weigh what is the best situation for you as an individual.

Answered by Jon Maves on April 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AZ, CA & 9 other states

Answered by Jon Maves Medicare Insurance Agent
Mostly they are the same thing - but a Medicare agent typically only represents one or two carriers, when a broker contracts with many more carriers and doesn't work/sell for only one specific carrier.

Answered by Ginger Gibbs on March 31, 2025

Broker Licensed in NV, AZ, CA & 14 other states

Answered by Ginger Gibbs Medicare Insurance Agent
A Medicare broker typically represents multiple insurance companies and can sell policies from various providers, offering a wider range of plan options. A Medicare agent, on the other hand, generally represents one insurance company and can only sell policies from that company.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Medicare Broker:

Independent:

Brokers work independently and aren't tied to a single insurance company.

Multiple Providers:

They can sell policies from a variety of insurance companies, allowing them to present a broader range of plans to you.

Comprehensive Advice:

Their ability to represent multiple companies allows them to provide a more comprehensive understanding of different plan options and their suitability for your specific needs.

Fee Structure:

Brokers are typically paid by the insurance companies they represent, so there's usually no extra fee or cost for you when enrolling in a plan through a broker.

Medicare Agent:

Company Affiliated:

Agents generally work for a specific insurance company and can only sell policies from that company.

Limited Plan Options:

Their ability to offer plan options is limited to the plans offered by their insurance company.

Specific Expertise:

They may have in-depth knowledge of the plans offered by their specific company but may lack a broader understanding of the overall Medicare market.

Fee Structure:

Agents are paid commissions by the insurance company for each enrollment, and this is typically factored into your premium.

Answered by Fred Manas on May 23, 2025

Agent Licensed in NY, CT, DC & 7 other states

Answered by Fred Manas Medicare Insurance Agent

Answered by Steve Brauer on June 3, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ & CA

Answered by Steve Brauer Medicare Insurance Agent
In general, Medicare agents work for just one company like Humana or United Health Care. Medicare brokers work for multiple carriers. Even though large reputable conglomerates like United and Humana have policies that can serve well for many insureds, they don't always have the best benefits for everyone as everybody's needs are different. I believe it's always best practice to review your Medicare options and Benefits with a Medicare broker.

Answered by Mel Stevens on May 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Mel Stevens Medicare Insurance Agent
A Medicare broker is on who represents several insurance companies that sell Medicare Plans.

A Medicare Agent is someone who works for Medicare directly.

Answered by Gary Haft on June 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, DC & 9 other states

Answered by Gary Haft Medicare Insurance Agent
There are two answers to this question: to sum it up, not as much as one might think.

1. Most states don't have official separate licensing called a broker license. A few may.

Listing to the public as broker most of the time doesn't mean an official separate license title different from licensed agent. It's a way to attempt to signal they are contracted to sell products from more than one insurance company. Note: I taught insurance pre-licensing and continuing education for 12 years.

2. Any licensed insurance professional selling Medicare plans has to follow certain rules. If they are doing marketing for specific Medicare plans they (whether listing as agent or broker) are required to state how many insurance companies they offer and how many total policy options they have in the specific designated marketing area for all the companies represented.

Answered by Phyllis Dixon on April 28, 2025

Agent Licensed in VA, MD & SC

Answered by Phyllis Dixon Medicare Insurance Agent
Medicare broker- respresents multiple insurance carriers. Medicare agent- same but may be more limited.

Answered by Marisol Torres on March 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in IL, CA, FL & 19 other states

Answered by Marisol Torres Medicare Insurance Agent

Tags: Agent Interview New To Medicare

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